The latest episode of the Silent Killers podcast, hosted by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), brings a deeply human and timely perspective from Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. Drawing on more than three decades of work across humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping missions, development and multilateral diplomacy, she offers a candid assessment of the global disarmament landscape, and a reminder of why strengthened efforts in this field are crucial.
Ms. Nakamitsu’s early postings within the United Nations placed her directly on the frontlines of conflict, from the Kurdish refugee crisis to the Balkans. But it was in Cambodia, during the early 1990s, that she encountered for the first time the scale of devastation caused by anti-personnel landmines and other explosive devices. These experiences grounded her approach when she was appointed High Representative in 2017 to place people at the heart of disarmament efforts.
The episode also tackles today’s evolving security environment. Ms. Nakamitsu raises concerns about the erosion of long-standing humanitarian disarmament norms and the emergence of new technologies with unpredictable humanitarian consequences, including Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS). With global military expenditure continuing to rise, she stresses the need for broader and more balanced approaches to security.
“Do arms race dynamics really ensure our security? From the United Nations, our answer is no.”
She argues that such trends risk undermining collective security and crowding out investments in sustainable development, climate action and inequality reduction. For her, diplomacy, arms control and disarmament must remain central, not secondary considerations.
Despite the challenges, Ms. Nakamitsu speaks with optimism about youth engagement and the role of civil society in disarmament. From the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), she recalls transformative movements driven by younger generations and underlines that progress towards peace is possible, even in a fragmented world, when communities, governments, experts and young people come together.
“Believing in and actually witnessing some of those positive changes that were really driven by younger people… that gives me hope and energy every day to come to work.”
This episode of the Silent Killers podcast is a reminder that disarmament is a humanitarian imperative, a commitment to preventing harm, protecting civilians and creating space for peace and development. A powerful exploration of why disarmament remains essential for a safer and more sustainable future.
Listen to the full conversation on Youtube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
The Twenty-Second Meeting of the States Parties of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (22MSP) will take place from 1 to 5 December 2025 in Geneva.
